Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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89. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans for the implementation of the recommendations of the recently published 2021-22 annual report by the special rapporteur on child protection; the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6140/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Special Rapporteur on Child Protection is a Government-appointed position, with a term of office of three years. The functions of the Rapporteur are to keep under review and to audit legal developments for the protection of children; to assess the impact, if any, litigation in national and international courts will have on child protection; to prepare a report annually and to examine, upon request, the scope and application of existing or proposed legislative provisions and to make comments/ recommendations as appropriate.

Government approved the publication of the 2021/2022 annual report, which is the 15th Report of the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, in mid-December.

The annual reports of the Special Rapporteur have tended to cover a wide range of policy areas and contain commentary and recommendations relating to several Departments and Agencies. Every year, an advance copy of the annual report is provided to all relevant Departments, on a confidential basis, so that they may consider the report and take any action they deem necessary. It is a matter for each Department to take appropriate steps to address the report’s recommendations relevant to their specific remit.

Overall, the work of the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection is welcomed and valued. The annual reports provide important input on the development and review of child protection policy and legislation as well as an objective and independent expert view of the child protection system in Ireland. The reports have been influential in informing our policy responses to improve the lives of children and young people, across Government.

Professor Conor O’Mahony is the author of the 2021/ 2022 annual report and his three-year term of office as Special Rapporteur concluded in July 2022. Government recently appointed Ms Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC as Special Rapporteur on Child Protection for the next three-year term.